Advanced State Aid Seminar and Maastricht Forum on State Aid

Target Group:
Officials from central and local governments and managers of public enterprises who may be involved in the formulation and implementation of state aid schemes. The seminars are also open to managers of enterprises that may receive aid.
 
Description:
The standard seminar runs for two days and consists of presentations and group discussions. The contents of the standard seminar are fixed and cover treaty principles, case law and Commission guidelines.
The advanced workshop runs for two days and its contents vary depending on the topicality of the various state aid issues. The Master Class runs for two days and is based on analysis of recent important Commission decisions and Court rulings.
 
Method:
The standard seminar uses a mixture of lectures, case analysis and group discussions to impart knowledge and facilitate the sharing of experiences and mutual learning.
The advanced workshop relies on presentations examining specific issues in greater detail and considering the implications for the future evolution of state aid policy.
For the Master Class, participants are expected to introduce cases on which they are currently working for discussion (cases submitted by participants are not circulated outside EIPA).
 
Objectives:
The standard seminar aims to give participants a comprehensive understanding of the state aid concept and procedures as well as the conditions under which state aid may be granted. It also aims to familiarise officials with experiences in other Member States regarding national policies and coordination of aid granted by different authorities.
The advanced workshop focuses on a narrow range of issues and goes into greater depth. The Master Class is intended for public officials who already have a good understanding of state aid issues but want to improve their knowledge of and skills on how to determine whether a public measure contains state aid and how to design state aid schemes that are compatible with EU rules.
The lectures are given by recognised experts on those issues.